300 Essays. 
I have had all these in bloom. 
Erythrina crista-galli Brazil hardy. 
i bidwillii 
Hybrid » 
Are two varieties of the coral plant well worthy of a place in the garden ; 
'they die back every season after blooming, and should not be pruned until 
they show their young growth in the spring. Fora time they grow slowly ; 
they are free bloomers, and in autumn, when covered with spikes of deep 
crimson flowers, are very beautiful. They require rich soil, and some stable 
manure put round the plants in winter will be found of advantage. I have 
tried the tree varieties, but found them too tender for this climate. 
Plumbago capensis Cape of Good Hope hardy. 
m larpenta China 3s 
The first is a pretty shrubby plant with lavender flowers. The plants, 
when young, should be protected in winter. The latter an herbaceous plant, 
well adapted for massing in beds; it has a very dark blue flower, and from 
its richness and profusion contrasts well with the leaves. : 
Bouvardia triphylla Mexico hardy. 
A very pretty dwarf plant, quite deciduous; in summer it has bunches 
of scented tubular flowers. 
Rhododendron arboreum Nepal hardy. 
2 seum » E 
5 gaatonii Khoseea » 
» altaclarense Hybrid 5 
oe tawbiense North America : 
4 delicatum Hybrid a 
5 cunninghamii 8 e 
» nigrum maculatum a s ii 
5 ponticum album » 5 
onticum Gibraltar 7 
And many other varieties. 
These, like the Azalea indica, seem quite at home in the climate of New 
Zealand, and in spring, when covered with their beautiful and gay blooms, 
have a very striking appearance in the garden. The three varieties of the 
arboreum are growing well, but have not yet bloomed. There is very little 
trouble in their culture after they have obtained sufficient size to be planted 
out; the raising them from seed is however a tedious and diffieult matter ; 
when so very young they are easily lost from damping off. Care must be 
taken with these and the Azaleas, in preparing the ground properly for 
them before planting ; they, like the Camellia, require free drainage to their 
Toots and a prepared soil which should be composed of one-half alluvial 
loam, quarter peat earth, and quarter white sand (no manure), well mixed 
together. I am now trying to grow these plants in alluvial soil, only in a 
position well drained they grow very luxuriantly, and will, I think, flower 
wel. I mention this because I am of opinion that a good sandy loam may 
